DrForester
Kills Photobucket
ASOS/ADWD
Edmure basically won the War of the Five Kings for the Lannisters; if he had followed directions Stannis would have almost certainly won the Battle of the Blackwater. That blunder saved the Lannisters, allowing them to continue dealing with the Starks; Catelyn released Jaime after Edmure's folly though.
The reason I'd argue she lost the war for the North is because releasing Jaime forfeited Robb's life. People focus so much on Robb's idiotic marriage but the most important factor in the betrayal was the Boltons. Lord Bolton was convinced Robb couldn't win not because of the Frey shit, but because of the Winterfell sack and the release of Jaime. It was Bolton who sent the northern army to Duskendale, falsely advertised as Robb's decree, in order to show his loyalty to Tywin. It's hard to argue Bolton would make the same decision if Jaime was still in chains and Robb was on the march to re-capture Winterfell. Likewise it's unlikely Tywin would agree to any attempt on Robb's life while Jaime was in custody; he'd be forfeiting his heir's life.
The original plan was for an errant arrow to kill Robb, but the Freys escalated the plan out of stupidity - without Bolton on their side, I don't believe the Freys would have been ballsy enough to pull the trigger; there's no evidence of them making major decisions unless they were safe, and without the Boltons any attempt on Robb would be foolish.
As I said earlier I don't think the North could have outright defeated the Lannisters/Tyrells, but if Robb had made it back north he would largely be untouchable. Winter was coming, Tywin was dead, and the south was being flanked by the Iron Born and later Aegon. It's very unlikely that Cersei, once again made Queen Reagent, would even consider sending Lannister troops out of the city to march north while Mace Tyrell's army occupied King's Landing. Robb at Winterfell wouldn't be an immediate threat to the crown.
ASOS/AFFC
The whole Red Wedding was shocking, because it made no sense. Walder Frey came off as a cowardly, yet calculating and careful person. He wanted his family to have more power, and a marriage to Robb would secure that power. No matter how the War went, Frey's name would survive given the number of kids he had. Betraying Robb was one thing, but the manner in which he did it just seemed off. They gained nothing, except revenge. Their family name is shit, and all they got from it was Lordship of Riverrun (which is still under the jurisdiction of Harenhall). While Riverrun is a nice prize, I can't imagine Emmon Frey's hold on it will last with the River Lords still being pissed, not to mention Edmure is still alive, and Brynden will no doubt surface at some point. Just seems like a stupid move from Walder, and that wasn't the impression I got from him in his earlier appearances.
And totally agree about Cersei. Though, especially if Jamie was still in their custody. She would have given up the North to get him back, probably more, since she has to account for Arya being "dead" and Sansa vanishing.
And totally agree about Cersei. Though, especially if Jamie was still in their custody. She would have given up the North to get him back, probably more, since she has to account for Arya being "dead" and Sansa vanishing.